Crown Resorts has announced the official appointment of former telecom executive Ziggy Switkowski as the company’s new chairman.
Having passed the necessary regulatory checks, Switkowski will replace interim chair Jane Halton in the role. Halton, who has filled the role since August 26, is the only one of 11 Crown board members from a year ago still with the company, and will remain on as an independent nonexecutive director.
Switkowski joins a number of other recent board appointees, including former SkyCity Entertainment Group directors Nigel Morrison and Bruce Carter, reported Inside Asian Gaming. When he was appointed in August, Switkowski said it was his plan to “grow value for shareholders by continuing the urgent work to reform the business.”
This year, Crown was deemed unsuitable to retain its gaming licenses for both Crown Sydney in New South Wales and Crown Melbourne in Victoria. The NSW casino was new and never opened, but may eventually open if Crown comes into compliance with regulations in the states where it does business; the Victoria casino remains operational under a two-year probationary period, during which Crown must prove itself worthy to retain the license. Crown Melbourne will operate under the watch of a special manager during that grace period.
Switkowski is the former non-executive chairman at broadband provider NBN Co., and has held roles as chairman and non-executive director on multiple stock exchange-listed companies and national organizations. He is currently based in Melbourne.
